Capstone Project
| Group | 2023-26 | Status | inprogress |
| Title | Self-Serve Scan-To-Cart | ||
| Supervisor | S. Le Beux | ||
| Description | The project consists of a smart shopping system which would help all kinds of customers save time, and facilitate their shopping process at grocery stores. This system would also allow people to get faster support using a live text or voice chat with remote store employees/customer support. It would also be able to notify users of the weight of the items in their cart and warn them of potential injury risks (based on their age) from carrying heavy loads.
This system would consist of an android app on a phone or tablet (tablet would be mounted on a shopping cart), a barcode reader, an LCD screen, a weight scale, and an IPS system.
Functionality Flow: when a user searches for an item in the app, the app will be able to tell the user where this item is located in the store (location stored in SQL database), and guide them to that item based on their current position using a shortest-path-algorithm (indoor positioning system: IPS). The user can then take the item off the shelf and scan its barcode using the barcode reader, and place it inside the cart, which contains a weight sensor that will send real-time weight data to the app which will display the current weight of the cart. The item’s information (name and current price) will be shown on the LCD screen attached to the cart, and the user’s shopping list on the android app will be updated with the newly added item. From there, the user will be able to edit their shopping list and check out using a payment card directly from their phone. Features: • Indoor positioning system (IPS) using Wi-Fi connectivity that leads customers to the location of needed items. • Bluetooth Arduino barcode scanner to scan items before putting them in the cart. • SQL database to store all items and their information (inventory system), connected to the LCD screen system and the app. • LCD screen attached to the cart to display item information when it is scanned. • Weight sensor/scale used to send cart weight to app and displayed on a screen (screen type TBD) on the cart, and warn users of potential injury risks (based on their age) from carrying heavy loads. • Android App Features o User accounts with log in/out. o Advanced searching and filtering. o User manual (informs user of how to use the product). o Editing shopping list (removing item, changing quantities…). o Check out system (using payment card). o User purchase history. o Currency conversion (for product prices). o Dynamic pricing algorithm to change product prices based on demand. o Product customers rating system (star system, text-based reviews…). o Live chat support between customer and customer support (this live support can be text based or voice based). o Product information page (nutritional information…) Deliverables: • Barcode reader, LCD screen, weight sensor (to be attached to cart/basket) • Android app |
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| Requirement | • Programming skills: Java and SQLite (COEN/ELEC 390) and C++ (COEN243/244) • Database design and usage in SQL (COMP353) • Networking (COEN366) • Development strategies like scrum, sprints, backlogs and GitHub (SOEN341 and COEN/ELEC 390) • Data structures and algorithms (COEN352), threads (COEN346) • Microcontrollers • Software testing and validation (COEN448) | ||
| Tools | • Android Studio IDE (for app building) + MySQL (database management) + Android Phone or Tablet (for testing and deployment) • Hardware components: Arduino microcontroller, Bluetooth module, wires for connections, barcode reader, barcode reader holder, weight sensor and analog screen, LCD screens (other resources TBD in design phase), shopping cart or basket, screen for weight display on cart • IPS components TBD in design phase | ||
| Number of Students | 5-6 | ||
| Students | K. Tabbara, K. Phan, E. Labaki, S. Soliman, A. Enani, A. Saab | ||
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